President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has restated his administration’s commitment to strengthening judicial independence by improving the welfare and security of judicial officers.
Speaking on Wednesday at the inauguration of 20 housing units for judges of the FCT High Court in Katampe, Abuja, Tinubu—represented by the Attorney‑General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN)—underscored that judicial independence must extend beyond constitutional guarantees to practical measures that safeguard judges’ dignity and peace of mind.
“We cannot expect judges to dispense justice without fear or favour if their comfort, security and peace of mind are left to chance. True judicial independence is built on the dignity of our judicial officers,” he said.
The President noted that the newly inaugurated estate followed the completion of 10 housing units each for judges of the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court.
He added that his administration had also inaugurated the first phase of 10 housing units for lecturers and staff of the Nigerian Law School in Bwari, while work on the second phase was progressing. He further disclosed that the foundation had been laid for residential quarters for judges of the National Industrial Court and the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
Tinubu described these projects as part of a deliberate and sustained effort to strengthen the judiciary, which he called a “key pillar of Nigeria’s democracy.” He commended FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for his role in infrastructure development and urban renewal in Abuja.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Husseini Baba‑Yunusa, hailed the project as a significant investment in judicial welfare, stressing that decent accommodation enhances productivity, reinforces independence, and safeguards personal security.
“The welfare of judicial officers is not a privilege; it is an institutional necessity that promotes stability, enhances productivity, safeguards personal security and preserves the dignity that must accompany judicial office,” he said.
In his remarks, the FCT minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, disclosed that the newly inaugurated judges’ quarters in Abuja will be allocated to judicial officers on an owner-occupier basis, and that the allocation would be subject to the formal approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Attorney‑General of the Federation (AGF), Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
Wike explained that the 20 housing units form part of a 40-unit judges’ quarters designed to provide secure and functional accommodation. He assured that an additional 20 units for FCT High Court judges would be completed before the end of Tinubu’s first term.
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